To wear a mask, or to not, that is the question...or is it?

Since our doors opened back up to the general public in January after a brief period of curbside-only, we have seen a steady increase in patron traffic coming in and out of our building. With that, we thought it would be a good idea to remind patrons about our current policies regarding COVID-19 safety.

We are no longer requiring patrons to provide contact tracing information upon entry, but masks and social distancing are still a must. Please make sure that all members of your household, ages 2 and older, are wearing a mask upon entry. One will be provided to you if you don’t have one. Staff are still cleaning and quarantining all materials for 96 hours upon return, disinfecting each hour, and at the end of the night.

UPDATE: With all the rapid changes to CDC recommendations and state pandemic requirements, we have had many questions about how the library policy will be changing. The library board discussed masking requirements at their May 21 meeting, and has come up with a timeline for our changes. Due to various concerns—unvaccinated staff members, the large number of children and elderly patrons we have, the unique nature of the work we do, and the legal need to do what we can to ensure that unvaccinated people are still wearing masks—we will still be requiring masks for all patrons through the end of June. We will continue to offer curbside pickup to anyone who doesn’t feel comfortable coming into the library, for whatever reason. Starting July 1, masks will no longer be required while you are in the library, although they may still be required during specific programs and events. We will evaluate our other pandemic procedures on an ongoing basis, and keep you updated on any other positive changes we can make.

We understand how frustrating this must be to most of our patrons, and we thank you in advance for your understanding and patience in the coming month. We understand that we are asking you to make a sacrifice, and we only feel comfortable doing so because we have also made sacrifices during the past 15 months. We are also weary of wearing masks, incessantly cleaning, and creating minor inconveniences for our patrons with our quarantining and rules. But I have asked my staff to work harder, get yelled at more frequently, and endanger their health more than I ever thought I would have to, and I’m just asking them . . . and you . . . to hold on for one more month. 

As always, feel free to contact me at 517-647-6981 ext. 4 or cgrimminck@portlandmilibrary.com with any questions or concerns.

Last chance to vote in Portland Creates

If you haven't already, stop by the library and vote for your favorite artist in Portland Creates. Voting ends Friday, May 28 at 4:30 pm. Stay tuned for announcements on the reception where we will be announcing our winners of each age category. Please check back here, check our Facebook page, call the library, or stop in and talk to someone at the desk - and while you're here you can vote!

Memorial Day books to remember

As Memorial Day fast approaches (May 31, 2021), we will remember and honor all the sacrifices of those who have defended our country. Yet, outside of our remembrance to our troops and other brave souls you may want something to read during this holiday. Here are some books for you and your family to explore.

Adults

Vince Flynn's "Memorial Day" might be more about action and suspense than honoring our veterans, but it may be a fun read for anyone who wants something fictional. Join Mitch Rapp, a CIA intelligence agent, as he races across the globe to defuse a nuclear strike plan in a remote Afghanistan village.

 

Another gripping tale, and more fact than fiction, that is perfect for this holiday would be Laura Hillenbrand's "Unbroken". This is an extraordinary tale about a man who as a delinquent youth channeled his energy into running, achieving a place in the Berlin Olympics; however, after war breaks out he becomes an air pilot. His journey is full of miracles, sure to engage and bring a sense of pride in the human spirit. It was also made into a motion picture in 2015, so if you would rather watch a movie this holiday check it out at the library!

We also can't forget the lives that were lost on our own soil, so giving Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown a try might be something worth reading this Memorial Day. This book follows how the West was "won" by the systematic annihilation of many Native American tribes, who fought bravely to combat the destruction of their people and culture.

Juvenile

Among countless other great children's books, you can find Memorial Day related books in our catalog for the Littles. Teach your child about Arlington National Cemetery or simply read them a book about what it means to serve in the military.

A chapter book a little closer to home for your Middle to read would be Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes, which follows a young American boy who becomes involved in pivotal moments in American history. Dotted with illustrations, this book recounts things like th Boston Tea Party and the first shots in Lexington, while staying applicable for both younger and older readers alike.

Teens might find something in the spirit of remembrance by delving into war-stricken stories such as the Diary of Anne Frank, Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne, or the Book Thief by Markus Zusak. These books all follow powerfully impactful World War stories from the perspective of young people such as themselves.

Looking for your next book? Try these book finding websites!

There is nothing more exciting than starting a new read, but there is also nothing more frustrating than trying to find one. Look no further than some of the book recommendations below!

Goodreads is a website that is dedicated to keeping all your books in an organized fashion so you never get confused about what you've read and haven't read. Search for a book, find the book, and place that title in one of the three categories: Read, Want to Read, and Currently Reading. The books you put on the Currently Reading list can also be updated to keep track of your completion progress, which is pretty neat. 

 

However, if you are looking for a book recommendation I would suggest searching for one. After you have found the title, click on it, and the website will redirect you to a new page. Here you will see, off to the right-hand side of the page, a section called "Readers Also Enjoyed". These are recommendations based off of what other people have read in addition to the book you've chosen, which can be handy if they read a lot of related interests.

 

Visit the website here: https://www.goodreads.com/.

Whichbook is a fun website where you can utilize categories to find your next book. You can view the different categories as tabs at the top of the page, which include: Mood & Emotion, World Map, Character & Plot, and Bestsellers. Once you have selected a topic, you will be brought to a page that displays books. You can also narrow down your search results using the boxes to the left of the screen. You can choose any of the search criteria and use a slider to make it more towards one end of the spectrum or the other. Once you have found an interesting book (all displayed by the cover), click on it to get a short summary of what the book is about and even some suggestions that are similar to this book near the bottom. Scrolling down further on this page also reveals more books with a similar topic to pick from.

 

Visit the website here: https://www.whichbook.net/.

 

What Should I Read Next? is a book recommendation site that uses the last book you read to find your next one. At the top of the page you will enter a specific book or author which will generate a list. You will then choose a book from the generated list and the website will populate a list of other books for you to try. Underneath each title you will notice there are tags, which will help you understand main themes or related words and can narrow down your search. You can also create a reading list on this website.

Visit the website here: https://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/.

 Whichever of these options you choose, we wish you luck on your reading journey!

Come vote for your favorite artist in Portland Creates!

 

We're on to the voting phase of Portland Creates! Stop by any time from May 3 until May 28th and view the art on display by local artists of all ages. Pick up a voting form at any of our desks (Circulation desk, Reference desk, or Childrens' desk) to start the voting process. The adult and teens will be located upstairs while the childrens', both age categories of 6-9 and 10-13, will be downstairs. Once you have completed your voting form, please return to any one of the desks and drop it in the metal paint can. There is a restriction of one vote per person per day, so please keep this in mind when you come and visit with intention to vote.

We look forward to your next visit!